Open Access DOI:10.23937/2572-4053.1510031
Pharyngoplasty in the Treatment of Sleep Apnea: Efficacy of Surgical Techniques
Carlos S Ruggeri, MD and Sebastian López
Article Type: Original Article | First Published: December 31, 2020
In sleep apnea/hypopnea syndrome (SAHS) a superior airway collapse can occur in the anteroposterioror lateral direction. The primary or secondary decrease in the tone of the dilating muscles of the pharynx, due to the negative pressure produced by the contraction of the diaphragm cause the collapse. Pharyngoplasty surgical techniques try to improve lateral collapse by repositioning the muscles that constitute the pharyngeal lateral wall, mainly the palatopharyngeal (PP), palatoglossal (PG) and u...
Open Access DOI:10.23937/2474-3658/1510185
Antibiotic De-escalation Practice in General Intensive Care Unit Penang General Hospital
Shiao Hui Lim, Chen Chuan Kuai and Chew Har Lim
Article Type: Research Article | First Published: January 11, 2021
De-escalation of empirical antibiotic therapy according to results of microbiological cultures will effectively target the causative pathogen, besides reducing broad-spectrum antibiotic exposure and minimizing the selection pressure on the development of resistant microorganisms. Primarily, the study aimed to assess the practice of broad-spectrum antibiotic de-escalation in General Intensive Care Unit (GICU). Secondary objectives were to describe the indication of broad-spectrum antibiotics use,...
Open Access DOI:10.23937/2474-3658/1510183
Battle against Two Pandemics New One (Covid-19) and Existing One (Tuberculosis)
Ch Pachouri, S Tripathi, S Shukla and A Pandey
Article Type: Review Article | First Published: December 31, 2020
Tuberculosis (TB) is a preventable and curable disease, and its control is a highly cost-effective health intervention. However, diagnostic delay and inadequate treatment contribute to the severity and mortality of the disease as well as the risk of transmission and development of drug resistance. Despite the fact that TB disproportionately impacts low- and middle-income countries, it does not spare any country in the world including those in the European Union/European Economic Area where more ...
Open Access DOI:10.23937/2474-3658/1510182
Proximity based Metrics Assessment of Disproportionate Exposure of Air Travelers to Spread of Covid-19 Pandemic
Nwokedi Theophilus Chinonyerem, Hussaini Yusuf Kodo, Obe Ejii Samuel and Ahunanya Valentine
Article Type: Research Article | First Published: December 31, 2020
Following the gradual easing of the inter-regional travel ban and restrictions on domestic air travels associated with the corona virus pandemic by Government due to economic reasons, confirmed cases of the covid-19 infection across states seems to have shown continual increase and the transmission curve show increasing trend particularly in Nigeria. Awareness of travelers’ level of exposure to the spread of the covid-19 disease relative to the travel distances is a sure prerequisite to limit ...
Open Access DOI:10.23937/2469-5793/1510136
The Women’s Health Network: An Evaluation of a Community- Based Initiative
Inneké L. Vargas1, Nikki Keene Woods, Ph.D., MPH, Courtney Bennett, BA, Jessica Paluri, Melody McCray Miller and Amy K. Chesser, Ph.D.
Article Type: Brief Report | First Published: January 08, 2021
This study is an evaluation of the Women’s Health Network (WHN) program initiative. The WHN is a grant funded project aimed at creating and maintaining health equity for women in the state of Kansas in the United States. This qualitative study explores the efficacy of a community-based initiative to build trust among community members. The WHN gathered a group of professionals and community members to serve as the board of directors. In order to assess project value, WHN conducted a series of ...
Open Access DOI:10.23937/2469-5793/1510135
Barriers to Self-Care among Diabetic Patients and Ways to Recognize and Address
Faris Matloub, MD
Article Type: Brief Report | First Published: January 04, 2021
Diabetes is an irreversible syndrome that has many complications. Although patients can lead a reasonably normal lifestyle, its late complications can reduce life expectancy and cause major financial burden. These include macrovascular conditions, leading to an increased prevalence of coronary artery disease, peripheral vascular disease, and stroke, in addition to microvascular damage which negatively affect the quality of life causing retinopathy, nephropathy and neuropathy. Newly diagnosed dia...
Open Access DOI:10.23937/2572-3286.1510061
A Study of Prevalence of Renal Diseases among Healthy Urban Population
T Balasubramaniyan, Hanock Unni Samuel, S Thirumavalavan, C Vasudevan, RP Senthil Kumar and V Murugesan
Article Type: Original Article | First Published: December 31, 2020
Renal disease is an important non-communicable disease in India. Lack of awareness, late diagnosis, less accessibility and higher costs for renal replacement therapy have led to increased morbidity and mortality. Though the common view of no or less awareness among rural population of India is true to some extent, awareness about renal diseases is low even in urban people. We decided to address the 'kidney health' of urban population of Chennai on the occasion of World Kidney Day 2020 the theme ...
Open Access DOI:10.23937/2643-461X/1710044
Addressing Schistosomiasis in a Community in Nigeria: A Theoretical Approach
Anyanti J, Akuiyibo S , Onuoha O, Nwokolo E, Atagame K and Braide EI
Article Type: Original Research | First Published: January 11, 2021
Schistosomiasis is one of several Neglected Tropical Diseases considered a major public health problem that affects tropical and sub-tropical countries. Residents of Gwako, a rural community in Nigeria’s Federal Capital Territory (FCT) lack access to potable water supply with community members resorting to a dirty stream - an unhygienic water source. It is estimated that significant proportions or all Gwako residents are infested with schistosomiasis with very high transmission rates. Resident...
Open Access DOI:10.23937/2643-4571/1710028
A Biochemical Analysis beyond the Muscle Contraction and its Relation with Isaac Syndrome
Valdemir Aquino de Freitas Neto
Article Type: Review Article | First Published: December 31, 2020
Isaac Syndrome is an autoimmune disease related to the involuntary contraction of skeletal muscles. The author, thus, is going to connect it with the process of muscle contraction through a biochemical study, analysing the pathway from a nervous impulse to the open of voltage-gated Potassium channels and the releasing of Ca2+ on myofibrils. This paper intends to introduce this rare disease and to induce further researches in order to find a cure. The muscle contraction process starts on the Na+/...
Open Access DOI:10.23937/2469-5769/1510072
The Usefulness of High Sensitivity C-Reactive Protein (hs- CRP) to Differentiate between Severe and Non-Severe Dengue in Children
Aaradhana, Bineeta Kashyap, Krishna Singhla and Rahul Sharma
Article Type: Original Research | First Published: December 31, 2020
High sensitivity CRP (Hs-CRP) has not been studied in children with dengue so far. We conducted this descriptive cross-sectional study to compare hs-CRP levels between a group of 31 children under 12 year of age with dengue (positive NS1 antigen and/IgM ELISA for dengue) and healthy comparison group and between severe and non-severe dengue cases. Hs-CRP levels were assessed in sera of hospitalized dengue cases and healthy controls. Median (IQR) hs-CRP levels were 46.59 (34.8, 67.0) mg/L and 0.53...